A meeting with Suzy Somers and Kim Oliff is always a treat. Creative energy and laughter filled their small store while we talk about their last events. Particularly, when they tell me the story of one of their longtime clients who contemplates how boring it must be to produce all these flawless birthday celebrations for him. "If he only knew," Suzy chuckles. "That's what we are here for--to have creative ideas followed by a perfect execution while handling all the problems that might occur."

Suzy founded her company more than 20 years ago. In 1995 Kim came on board. They work so well together and love and respect each other so much, that Suzy's children call Kim "their mother's chosen daughter." Together they create the most incredible festivities: private events such as weddings, birthdays, and bar/bat mitzvahs; large corporate events; and political fundraisers. "All these different challenges make our work so interesting and exciting and keep us on our toes."

"How do you envision your wedding?" is one of the first questions they ask the couple. There is nothing that cannot be considered, even if tradition must be twisted. Why not an ice cream cake if it is the bride's favorite, or a dance session before dinner! Suzy and Kim encourage bride and bridegroom to add not only something blue and old, but also something unexpected and something playful. One of their bridegrooms proposed with a ring made of beads he had created himself. Why not use the same ring for the wedding ceremony and, during a quiet moment, exchange it for the real "thing"? Setting the tone with the invitation is another part for which they are known. A musical invitation was so cute that it encouraged almost all of the 200 invited guests to travel to Oregon for the celebration.

The budget is another important subject; Suzy makes it very clear that she only charges by the hour. There are no hidden costs, nor is money added to the vendor's bill. All savings are passed on to the client. "We always come in on budget," she adds proudly.